Friendly: Cork City 1-0 PSC Academy

Cork City got their pre season off to a perfect start this afternoon out in O’Shea Park, Blarney, thanks to a second half Karl Sheppard goal against the PSC Soccer Academy.

Cork City gave starts to new signings Sheppard, Kieran Djilali, and Gavin Holohan, while U19 Aaron O’Raw also started for the rebel army.  PSC Soccer Academy’s team was made up of players from mainly American Colleges looking to win contracts in Europe during their weeklong trip in Ireland.

Both sides had chances in the opening ten minutes to score but Sheppard saw his shot go straight at Lubin while Wilfred Tagbo saw his header go narrowly wide of Kevin O’Brien’s goal following a Gus Villalobus cross to the near post.

Cork City then had a few chances to score, with Darren Murphy’s shot from 12 yards saved. A couple of dangerous crosses followed afterwards, but there was nobody at the end of the crosses from either Djilali or Josh O’Shea to finish off the moves.

PSC, who had been defeated 6-1 by the Irish Amateur squad the night before, were restricted to long range shots as the game approached the half hour, with Villalobous seeing his 20-yard effort saved by O’Brien.

City had a chance to take the lead on the verge of half time when a goalmouth scramble ensued in the PSC box, but O’Shea shot narrowly wide of the goal as referee Graham Kelly blew the half time whistle.

The second half was only five minutes old when City were in front through a Sheppard goal. Djilali crossed from the right hand side to find O’Shea, who headed it across the box to the incoming Sheppard who headed the ball low past Lubin into the goal.

PSC nearly responded with an instant equaliser, though, when Gibson Bardsley saw his free kick from outside the box go wide of the goal.

On 56 minutes City were unlucky not to be further in front when, following a period of pressure, Sheppard saw his shot from inside the six yard box blocked by a last ditch save from Lubin.

The momentum was all with City now as PSC were relying on long distance shots to level up the game. Darren Dennehy was unlucky not to score on 66 minutes when his looping header, following a Djilali corner, was headed off the line by Daniel Taylor.

O’Shea almost doubled CIty's advantage on 71 minutes when Ross Gaynor picked him out with a through ball, but Lubin was off his line quickly to deny the former UCC player from scoring.

Ross Gaynor was now floating in some dangerous crosses to the PSC box, but Sheppard was unable to get on the end of them and this was followed up with Dennehy heading another ball over the bar.

PSC had a late opportunity to draw the game when Sean Varbanic saw his shot from 12 yards well saved by O’Brien as City held out for a deserved victory.

Next up for Cork City will be a trip to Roscommon and Athlone next weekend to play Roscommon District League, Finn Harps and Athlone Town while PSC will play Wayside Celtic at Jackson Park tomorrow night.

Cork City:Kevin O’Brien, Aaron O’Raw (Cian Coleman 46), Michael McSweeney, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor, Kieran Djilali, Gavin Holohan, Darren Murphy, Colin Healy (Colin Nugent 62), Josh O’Shea, Karl Sheppard
Subs not used: 

PSC Soccer Academy: Zac Lubin, Taylor Bowlin, Andy Hackbarth, Thomas Taylor, Daniel Taylor, Gibson Bardsley, Wilfried Tagbo Sean Varbanic 46), Mike Reed, Gus Villalobus, Quentin Lendresse (Shaun Greenfield 46), Elijah Galbraith-Knapp
Subs not used: 

Referee:Graham Kelly

Attendance: 150 (estimate)

Extratime.ie man of the match: Darren Murphy (Cork City)